Conveyer.



G. W. YOUNKMAN.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20. I916.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET l avwewtoz $51 k Ho vne 13 \ixmm.

G. W. YOUNKMAN.

CONVEYERI Q mm m m m m. m ma u a 9 H1. z 0 m 5 m w 3 m w m w w n m z. A 0

G. W. YOUNKMAN.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 10, IMG- 1,287,170. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GEORGE W. YOUNKMA'N, OF BROOKLYN, NEW TORK.

' CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters l'atent. Patented Dec, 10, 1918.

Epplication filed January 10, 1916. Serial No. 71,181.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, GEORGE MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements construction for conveyers of this type whereby a strong rigid structure is produced, whereby the construction is simplified and the cost reduced, and whereby the work of erecting the conveyer is greatly facilitated.

One of the features of the invention involves the provision of a construction which permits of assembling the several parts and securing them together by means of clamping devices which hold the coacting parts by a gripping action rather than the use of bolts passing through bolt holes or similar fastenmg devices. The parts for conveyers of this type are prepared in a suitable machine shop and then shipped to the point of installation of the conveyer where they are assembled. In these, large conveying structures, it is practically impossible to prepare the parts with such a degree of accuracy as will make them fit exactly when assembled, particularly in that a minute Variation in the radius or diameter of the spiral structure is multiplied at the circumference. I have therefore provided clamping devices for securing together the several parts so constructed that they may be utilized notwithstanding slight variations from the intended dimensions and will not require that .the parts be specially machined for coactionwith the clamping'devices at predetermined points.

In accordance with the invention, the spiral structure of the conveyor is supported upon two series of uprights which are arranged in concentric circles and two spirally formed bands, each of which is secured to the uprights of one Of the series, These two W. YOUNK-- bands support a multiplicity of rollers which extend across the space between the two bands and which together form the conveymg surface. These rollers have their ends mounted in bearings which are carried by the bands and are secured thereto by clamp- 1ng devices with the several bearings spaced apart the desired amount dependent upon the character of the materials to be conveyed. These bearings are specially formed for securing them to the bands by clamping devices so that they may be spaced apart as desired and secured to the bands without requiring that the points Where they are to be secured be established prior to the erection of the conveyer structure.

The invention also involves the provision of a special form of clamping devices for securing the bands of the conveyer structure to the uprights, these devices being adapted to grip the uprights and also the bands without requiring any special formation of the uprights and the bands at the points where they coact with the clamping devices. The invention also involves the provision of uide rails and clampin devices for mounting these rails upon the hands in positions to guide the articles to be conveyed in their spiral course.

The invention also involves novel arrangements of the angular relation of the rollers in the spiral portion of the conveyer whereby these rollers alone tend to cause the articles .to move in a spiraldirection without requiring the guidance of the guide rails. As a result of this, frictional resistance to the'inovement of the articles upon the conveyer is greatly reduced. I have found that by arranging the rollers in the spiral portion of the conveyer, slightly ofiset from radial positions, the articles conveyed may be caused to move in a spiral direction along the center line of the conveyer without coming in contact with the guide rails. For this purpose, the outer ends of the rollers are set slightly in advance of radii passing through the centers of the inner ends of the rollers. I have found that this angular arrangement of the rollers is effective in causing the articles to move in a spiral direction. Each of the several rollers upon which an article is supported tends to move that article in;

are disposed in the manner above referred to, those under the forward 'end of an article are constantly turning that end mwardly slightly so as to cause the article to follow corner to the, inner rear corner of'the bot.

tom of the box, rather than over the entire lower surface of the box, and this distribution of the w eightIof the box makes theforward rollers sustaining the'box' more effective in moving thebox in directions at right angles to their axes.

If desired, both- 9f the two arrangements of the rollers above referred to may; be employed in combination in order, to effect movement of the articles along a spiral path without contact or with greatly reduced contact of the boxes with the guide rail, as a result of which frictional resistance to the movement of the boxes is considerably reduced.

These and other features of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the invention. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the conveyer; Fig. 2 is a skeleton view of the two bands which are mounted upon the uprights and which support the rollers; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the devices for supporting the bands upon the uprights; Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3 showing the spacing.

devices; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the construction employed in the straight portion of the conveyer; Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the devices for supporting the spiral structure upon the uprights and the receptacles which receive the bearings on the rollers; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the clamping devices shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the clamping devices shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the end of one of the rollers and the bearing therefor; Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 8 and showing one of the receptacles; Fig. 11 is a face View of the parts shown in Fig. 10; Figs. 12 and 13 are views similar to Figs. 10 and 11 illustrating the construction employed in the straight portion of the conveyer; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the rollers arranged with their outer ends lower than their inner ends; and Fig. 15 is a plan view of a po tion of the spiral conveyer showing the rollers arranged with their outerr'ends slightly in advance of radii passing through the centers of their inner ends. v

Referring to these drawings, the conveyer of channel-irons of a length dependent upon the height of 'the conveyer and four such supporting channels in each 1 series are shown. The channels "of the inner series are shown at 16 and the channels of the outer series at 17, andthoseof each series are arranged at intervals of 90 about the center of the spiral structure. If desired,

4 suitable braces may be employed extending from one channel of a series toanother, or

the ends of the channels maybe suitably secured to the base androof of the building. These two series of uprights support a pair of bands, each of which'is bent-t01the form offa spiral. The inner band isfshown at 18 and each convolution thereof is' secured to each of the channels 16. The outer band is shown at 19 and each convolution thereof is secured to each of the channels 17 in such positions that the band 19 lies directly opposite the band 18. These two bands are made from metallic strips of substantial weight, since they, together with the uprights 16, constitute the supporting structure for the conveyer. These two bands thus arranged carry a multiplicity of rollers 20 which extend across the space between the bands 18 and 19 and which are mounted at their ends for rotation so as to turn freely to permit an article to move along in the guideway over the rollers.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 3. 6, 7 and 8, the construction of the devices whereby the bands are supported upon the channels will-now be described. A casting 21' is employed shaped to provide a face adapted to lie against the face of the channel 17 and extending beyond the sides of the channel. The projecting ends of the casting 21 coact with blocks 22, each of which is shaped to provide a groove 23 adapted to receive one of the flanges on the channel 17. Another portion of the block 22 coacts with a lug 24 at the extreme edge of the casting 21. The parts 21 and 22 are provided with openings to receive bolts 25 by which the blocks 22 may be drawn up to the casting 21 so as to grip the channel 17 tightly between the face of plate 21 and the grooves 23 in the blocks 22. As the blocks 22 are drawn up thus, the rounded surfaces thereof which engage the projections 24 cause the blocks to be moved toward each other until their adjacent faces lie flat against the faces of the flanges of the channel 17. In this way,

the casting 21 may be secured to the channel 17 with a degree of rigidity and strength quite suflicient to sustain the weight which is transmitted to the channel through the casting, but it is unnecessar to machine or otherwise form the channe to receive the securing devices.

Adjacent to its upper edge, the casting 21 has a slot 26 therein preferably formed on an incline approximating the incline of the bands 18 and 19. This slot receives a bolt 27 Which passes through an opening formed in a clamping member which is secured to the band 19. This clamping member is shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7 as one of two members which are clamped to the band 19 and which carry a receptacle for the bearing on the end of one of the rollers 20. The clamping member'is shown at 28 and consists of a flat metallic piece having an integral downward extension 29 which lies against the face of the casting 21 and through which the bolt 27 extends. The piece 28 has a flange 30 extending along one edge and adapted to bear against one side of the band 19. The opposite edge of the member 28 is also directed upwardly forming a flange 31, the upper face of which is inclined as shown in Fig. 8. The other clamping member consists of a casting 32 adapted to lie against the face of the band 19 and having its lower end extended horizontally to coact with the member 28. The extreme edge of this horizontal extension is inclined as shown at 33 for .c0-

operation with the inclined edge of the flange 31 on the member 28. The casting 32 has a groove or ocket formed therein to receive the upper e ge of the band 19 and it is extended upwardly so as to'form one of the supports for the guide rail. The extreme upper end of the castingis turned over to form a projection 34 and the guide rail 35 is positioned against the face of the casting 32 and the edge of this projection 34. The

guide rail is preferably a metallic strip of" the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 8, wherein it appears that the rail 1s semicircular in ross section. The rail is held 1n the position in which it is shown by a clamping block 36 adapted to be seated in a depression rovided for it in the casting 32 and having its edge formed for coaction with the rail 35. A bolt 37 passes through the block 36 and the casting 32,'this bolt being adapted to draw the block into its recess and cause it to grip the rail 35 firmly, pressing it against the face of the casting 32 and the edge of the projection 34.

The casting 32 also hasia cylindrical receptacle formed thereon for the reception of the bearing on the roller. For this purpose, a circular wall 38 is cast integral with the member 32 as shown.

The guide rail 35 lies directly over the band 19 and parallels it throughout the length of the band. It is supported in the manner above described upon the clamping members 32 but it is unnecessary to provide 'a support for the guide rail, at each point where a receptacle for the bearing of a roller is provided. Also, receptacles for the bearings of rollers are provided at numerous points other-than those occurring directly adjacent to one of the channels 16 and 17. For these reasons, bearing receptacles of the form shown at the right and left of Fig. 6 and in Fig. 9 are provided, these being like that shown at the center of Fig. 6, except that they are not extended downwardly for coaction with the casting 21 or upwardly for the support of the guide rail. In the case of these parts, the cylindrical receptacle for a bearing is formed by a circular wall 38 cast integral with a clamping member 39 (Fig. 9), the upper edge of which extends over the edge of the band 19. The lower edge of the casting is extended horizontally as shown at 33 for coaction with a clamping member 40, one edge of which engages the extension 33 of the casting 39 and the other edge of which is turned upwardly to form a flange 30 adapted to lie against the face of the band 19.

Each of the rollers 20 has a bearing on each of its endsand each bearing is received in the cup or reeeptacle'formed by a circular wall 38. The construction which I prefer to employ is that illustrated in Fig. 9.

Here the roller is shown as formed from a length of metallic tubing. In the end of this tubing a support 41 is secured, this support being formed from a circular piece of sheet metal by pressing the piece into form to provide a circumferential flange 42 and a central projection 43. The support having been formed thus, the end of the roller 20 is expanded slightly to form a shoulderagainst which the support 41 will become seated, and then the extreme end of the roller is turned inwardly to ip the support and hold it rigidly in position in the end of the roller.

When the support is thus fixed in the end other than those where the band is secured to the uprights. In such cases the clamping member shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is employed, in which the upper member is like that shown at 32 in Fig. 8, whereas the lower member is like that shown at 40 in'Fig. 9.

- The. two bands 18 and 19 must be maintained at a fixed distance apart at all points throughout their length so that the rollers 20 will not bind in their bearings and on the other hand will not be allowed excessive freedom of movement in an axial direction. The securing of the bands to the channels 16 and 17 tends to hold the bands in proper positions but I have found it highly advisable to provide additional spacing means for holdingthe bands 18 and 19 at the proper distance apart. For thls purpose, spacing rods such as that shown at 44 in Fig. 4 are provided. Where such a spacer is utilized, a lower clamping member is employed of the type shown at 28 in Fig. 8 rather than the type shown at 40 in Fig. 9, which would otherwise be employed. Such clamping members 28 are shown in Fig. 4 coacting with upper clamping members 32 to grip the bands 18 and 19. The ends of the spacing rod 44 pass through the openings in the downward projections29 on the members 28, and nuts are threaded upon the ends of the spacing rod 44 on opposite sides of the projections 29. By this construction, accurate spacing of the bands may be obtained so that the rollers will work with the desired degree of freedom.

At the upper and lower ends of the spiral portion of the conveyer are horizontal extensions as shown in Fig. 1. Throughout these horizontal portions I prefer to use angle-irons as the side frames of the conveyer rather than the fiat bands 18 and 19. Such angle-irons are shown at 45 in Figs. 5, 12 and 13. In these portions of the conveyer, a plurality of the cups for the reception of the bearings on the rollers may be cast integral. Such a casting is shown at 46,. it being preferably 12 inches long andhaving circular walls 38 cast upon it at distances of 4 inches between centers. Such castings 46 maybe laid end to end upon the horizontal flanges of the side frames 45 and rollers placed in all of the positions, in which case the rollers will be spaced apart 4 inches. If desired, however, the castings 46 may be spaced apart 4 inches and rollers omitted from the central cups 38 of the castings, in which case the rollers will be spaced apart 8 inches. The castings 46 may be bolted directly to the horizontal flanges of the side frames 45. At points where it is necessary to support the guide rail, a construction such as that shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be employed, including a supporting bracket 47 for the guide rail 35, which bracket has a horizontal extension 48 at its lower end provided with an opening through which extends the bolt 49 employed forsecuring the casting 46 to the side frame 47.

It will be seen that the conveyer thus constructed consists primarily of two concentric circles of uprights, spirally formed bands serights and the bands mounted thereon form the supporting structure of the conveyer on which all of the other parts are mounted. The two bands are held in their proper relaproper operation of the rollers, a plurality of spacers are combined with the parts above mentioned, these spacers extending between the bands and being secured at their ends to the bands in such a manner as to positively determine the. distance between the bands. Also, in order to guide the articles along their proper course, guide rails are combined with the bands and the rollers mounted thereon, these guide rails being carried by the bands above and parallel to them.

The fittings above described for securing the bands to the uprights, for securing the receptacles for the roller bearings to the bands, for securing the spacers to the bands, and for supporting the guide rails upon the bands, are all so formed that they may be clamped to the coacting parts without requiringthat those parts be specially formed for coaction with the clamping devices. This is a very important feature-of the construction herein described. It will be appre- .ciated that the parts for structures of this character are shaped in a manufacturing plant provided with special facilities for that purpose and are then shipped to the point of use where they are assembled to form the complete conveyer. .At the time of assemblage, any necessary machining or other work on the parts of the conveyer structure can be done only with difficulty and relatively large expense. In a structure of this character it is diflicult except at relatively large expense to so form the parts as to make them fit together with a high degree of accuracy, such as would berequired if the parts were secured together by bolts passing through holes provided in them. By employing clamping devices of the character herein described, the work of assembling the parts is greatly facilitated and machine work upon them at the point of erection of the conveyer is seldom or never required.

In Fig. 1 and in the full lines shown in Fig. 2, the inner and outer bands 18 and 19 are shown as directly opposite each other and all of the rollers 20 are shown as so positioned that their axes lie in radii of the circular structure. When such aconstruction is employed for the conveyance of articles such as pasteboard or wooden boxes, there is a tenden y for the box to move tan- '15 tion by the uprights but inorder to secure ac-. curate spacing of the bands so as to insure gentially until it engages the guide rail,

' manner of positioning the several rollers whereupon it is turned so that it Wlll proceed along its circular'course. The constant contact of the boxes with the guide rail and rubbing thereon, imposes a frictional resistance to the movement of the boxes which is undesirable. 'I have found that by displacing the several rollers slightly from the horizontal and radial posit-ions commonly employed, it is possible to cause the boxes to move in a path'more. nearly approximating the center line of the conveyer so that frictional resistance due to rubbing upon the guide rail is largely eliminated. This may be accomplished by so positioning the rollers that their outer ends are slightly in advance of radii passing through the inner ends. Such an arrangement of the rollers is'indicated in Fig. 15 where the arrow indicates the direction of movement of articles in the conveyer, the dotted lines indicate radii of the circular conveyer structure and the dot and dash lines indicate the axes of the several rollers 20. It will be seen that the center line of each roller coincides with a radius of the circular structure at the inner end of the roller and is slightly in' advance of that radius at'the outer end of the roller. This' gives to the boxes a tendency to follow a circular course along the center line of the conveyer so that there is considerably less rubbin contact of the boxes upon the guide rails. Each roller tends to move the box bearing thereon in a direction perpendicular to the axis of that roller, and therefore, if the roller is positioned as shown in Fig. 15, all of the rollers supporting the box are constantly tending to turn the box inwardly slightly. The proper position of the rollers is that in which this tendency to turn the box inwardly is just sufficient to overcome the natural tendency of the box to move in a tangential direction.

Another arrangement of the parts which may be employed for the accomplishment of this same purpose is indicated in Fig.14 and by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. This arrangement involves so mounting the several rollers 20 that their outer ends are slightly lower than their inner ends. In Fig. 14, the dot and dash line indicates the center line of the roller 20, whereas the dotted line indicates the horizontal. The rollers 20 may be positioned in the manner in- I below the inner band 18. When the several rollers are mounted in the manner indicated in Fig. 14, a box resting upon a plurality ofthe rollers is sustained primarily along a line or relatively narrow area extending from the inner rear end of the bottom of the box to the outer forward end; Such a box could be rocked slightly by depressing its forward inner end and its rear outer end alternately. Each of the several rollers on which such a box bears tends to'move the portion of the box bearing thereon in a direction transverse to the axis of the roller. Thus, the foremost one .of the several rollers on which the box bears, which roller is in engagement with the portion of the bottom of the box adjacent to its outer forward end, tends to move that end of the box in a direction transverse to the axis of the roller and in doing so it shifts the box angularly so as to direct it along the center line of the conveyer instead of moving in a tangential direction.

For the sake of simplicity, the two provisions above described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15 for causing the articles to follow the center line of the conveyer have been described separately. It will be understood however, that both may be employed together in the same structure if desired.

What I claim is:

1. In a conveyer, a supporting structure, a horizontally-inclined conveying structure, a plurality of rollers, a series of clamping members gripping the-supporting structure in vertically adjusted position, a cooperative series of clamping members gripping the conveying structure in longitudinally adjusted position, bearings for said rollers car-' ried by the clamping members gripping the conveying structure, and means for rigidly fastening the cooperative clamping members of the two series in any one ofvarious relatwo positions.

2. In a conveyer, a plurality of uprights, a horizontally-inclined conveying structure including two bands, a plurality of rollers, a series of clamping members gripping the uprights in vertically adjusted position, a cooperative series of clamping members gripping the bands in longitudinally adjusted position, bearings for said rollers carried by the clamping members gripping the bands,.and means for rigidly fastening the cooperative clamping members of the two series in any one of various relative positionss 3. In a conveyer, a supporting structure. a spiral conveying structure, a series of clamping members gripping the supporting structure in vertically adjusted position, a

series may be rigidly fastened .in any one of various relative positions.

4. In a conveyer, a supporting structure, a horizontally-inclined conveying structure, a plurality of rollers, guide rails for the conveying structure, a series of clamping members gripping the supporting structure in vertically ad usted position, a cooperative series of clamping members grippm the conveying structure and the ide rails in longitudinally adjusted position, bearings for said rollers carried by. the clamping members gripping the conveying structure, and means for rigidly fastening the cooperative clamping members of the two series in anyone of various relative positions.

5. In a conveyer, a supporting structure,

a horizontally-inclined conveying structure,

a series of clamping members gripping the supporting structure in vertically adjusted position, a cooperative series of clamping members gripping the conveying structure in longitudinally adjusted position, and means rigidly fastening the cooperative clamping members of the two series and comprlsing in each case a bolt passing through openings in the cooperative clamping members, one of said openings being elongated in the direction of the horizontal inclination of the conveying structure so as to permit fastening of the cooperative clamping'members in any one of various relative positions.

6.. In a conveyer, the combination of uprights, a plurality of two-part clamping members each applied to one of the uprights and each provided with a bolt for drawing the parts together to grip the upright, the two bands arranged opposite each other, a

plurality of two-part clamping devices spirally formed bands arranged opposite.

each other, a plurality of twopart clamping devices mounted on the bands opposite each other and having bolts for drawing the parts thereof together to cause them to grip the bands, means for securing the clamping members and the clamping devices together in any one of various difi'erent relative positions comprising a bolt on one of the parts parts extending through extending through a slot on the other, bearings formed on the clamping devices, a plurality of rollers extending between the bands, and trunnions on the ends of the rollers which are received in the bearings; substantially as described,

8. In a conveyer, the combination of uprights, a plurality of two-part clamping members each applied to one of'the uprights andeach provided with bolts for drawing the two parts together for causing the clamping member to grip the upright, two bands arranged opposite each other along the gradient of the conveyer, a plurality of twopart clamping devicesmounted on the bands and having means for gripping the bands, and adjustable means securing the clamping members and the clamping devices together in any one of various different relative ositions and comprising a slot in one o the parts inclined substantially along the gradient of the bands and a bolt extending through said slot and through the other part.

9. In a wnveyer, two bands mounted opposite each other, a plurality of pairs of clamps gripping the respective bands, each of said clamps having a circular wall and a downwardly extending perforated projection, spacing rods extending between and secured to the said projections of opposite clamps, and rollers having their ends received within said circular walls.

10. In a spiral conveyer, two spiral bands mounted opposite each other, a plurality of pairs of two-part clamps mounted on the bands with those of each pair opposite each other, means for drawing the parts of each clamp together to grip a band, a circular wall on one part of each clamp, a downwardly exten ing perforated projection on the other part of 'each clamp, spacing rods extending between and secured to'the said projections of opposite clamps, and rollers having their ends received within said circular walls; substantially as described.

11. In a conveyer, a supporting structure and a multiplicity of rollers mounted thereon in spiral arrangement, each of the rollers being disposed approximately horizontally.

but having its outer end slightly lower than its inner end; substantially as described.

12. In a conveyer, a supporting structure, a conveying structure having a multiplicity of rollers carried by the supporting structure in spiral'arrangement, each roller having its outer end in advance of a radius of the spiral passing through the inner end of the roller and also having its outer end slightly lower than its inner end; substantially as and for the purpose described. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE W. YOUNKMAN. 

